14 of the Biggest News-Making Moments in Sneakers in 2023
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Sneakers have long been dominated by giants, whether it’s an industry-leading brand, a highly influential celebrity or an athlete with legions of fans. In 2023, however, there was plenty of newness in the marketplace that generated headlines.
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For instance, rapper-turned-designer Jae Tips delivered his first-ever collaboration, a reimagined Saucony Grid Azura 2000, which was named Collaboration of the Year at the FN Achievement Awards in November. Also, brands invested in the performance basketball category released some of their best shoes in years (and in the case of NBA star Anthony Edwards with Adidas, delivered an equally compelling marketing effort).
Below are 14 of the new collaborators, sneakers and partnerships in sneakers that made noise in 2023.
Rihanna Is Back With Puma
After parting ways in 2018, Puma announced during Paris Fashion Week in March that pop megastar Rihanna was back with the brand. The German sportswear giant broke the news on social media with two words: “She’s back.” And in September, Puma announced a multiyear partnership with Rihanna creative director of Fenty x Puma, and revealed their their newest product franchise, the Fenty Puma Avanti. The look paired the iconic King soccer boot with the outsole of the Easy Rider heritage running shoe.
$230.00
Jae Tips Makes Big Waves With Saucony Releases
The boldest sneaker of 2023 is also arguably the year’s best. Jae Tips, a rapper turned collaborator from the Bronx, N.Y., delivered a reimagined Saucony Grid Azura 2000 in May. Titled “Remember Who Fronted,” the colorful and bold collaborative shoe served as proof of Jae Tips’ faith in himself. The shoe earned the FN Achievement Award for Collaboration of the Year and solidified Jae Tips as one of the best new talents in sneakers. The Grid Azura 2000, however, was not the only Saucony shoe he reimagined and released. At ComplexCon in November, Jae Tips and Saucony delivered two colorways of the Grid Shadow 2 dubbed “What’s the Occasion?” A broader release of the hit sophomore sneaker collaboration took place on Dec. 8.
$335
$186
Ronnie Fieg Opens the First Kith Women’s Store
Kith mastermind Ronnie Fieg told FN this fall that he had plans to open one more store before year’s end, and stated it’s going to be “very important to the company.” That boutique is here. Kith — the winner of the 2023 FN Achievement Award for Retailer of the Year — opened its first women’s standalone store in New York’s bustling SoHo neighborhood in December. The 644 Broadway location should look familiar to longtime fans of Kith: it’s the home of the first Manhattan Kith flagship, which opened in 2011 as a shop within Atrium.
Skechers Makes Its Debut in Basketball
The performance basketball shoe category is hot, and it seems if every brand wants in. That includes Skechers. In October, Skechers revealed its first-ever basketball shoes, the Skx Resagrip and the Skx Float, a pair of mid-top styles built for the hardwood. What’s more, the brand announced at the time that it had tapped two renowned ballers as brand ambassadors: Julius Randle of the New York Knicks and Terance Mann of the Los Angeles Clippers.
$150.00
$150.00
Puma Partners With F1, Names A$AP Rocky Creative Director
Puma announced in May that it had entered into an agreement with Formula 1, making the German athletic brand the official supplier at Formula 1 races and giving it the right to produce F1-branded apparel, footwear and accessories. Months later, Puma revealed in October it had entered into a longterm creative partnership with A$AP Rocky. The rap superstar was named creative director for Puma’s F1 partnership, and the brand stated he will focus on the intersection of motorsport and streetwear to develop collections. What’s more, he was tapped to bring a fresh perspective to F1’s rapidly growing audience.
Fear of God Athletics (Finally) Launches
The long-awaited partnership between Jerry Lorenzo’s Fear of God imprint and Adidas, dubbed Fear of God Athletics, finally arrived in December. The first athletic-inspired collection, which was made for sport performance, produced three silhouettes: the Fear of God Athletics 1 Basketball, the Fear of God Athletics ’86 Lo and the Fear of God Athletics Los Angeles Runner.
$357.00
Buy Fear of God Athletics 1 Basketball
$225.00
Buy Fear of God Athletics ’86 Lo
$464.00
Buy Fear of God Athletics Los Angeles Runner
WNBA’s Sabrina Ionescu Gets a Nike Signature Shoe
Nike revealed a history-making footwear and apparel collection in March for WNBA star Sabrina Ionescu, which included her debut signature shoe, the Sabrina 1. With the release, Ionescu became the first women’s basketball player ever at Nike Inc. to have a unisex signature collection. The look includes full-length React cushioning underfoot and a Zoom Air unit in the forefoot, and is replete with design elements that serve as nods to her Romanian heritage.
$130.00
Klutch Athletics by New Balance Debuts
Rich Paul, sports agent and founder of Klutch Sports Group, revealed his own brand in April. The brand, Klutch Athletics by New Balance, was described in a statement by Paul as a Black-owned sportswear brand that is co-authored with the Boston-based company. Rather than collaborate, Klutch Athletics by New Balance operates as a standalone brand that offers men’s, women’s and youth training apparel. And in April, Klutch Athletics by New Balance announced it had signed NFL superstar Chase Young as its first ambassador. In terms of footwear, speaking with FN, Young confirmed he will work with New Balance’s design team on cleats for football, which will debut in 2024.
$89.99
Buy Klutch Athletics by New Balance
Adidas Releases First Anthony Edwards Signature Shoe
Adidas revealed the first signature shoe of rising NBA star Anthony Edwards, the AE 1, in September to much fanfare. The “With Love” colorway was the first to release, a peach and black look inspired by the hooper’s hometown of Atlanta. The colorway arrived in December. However, Adidas and Edwards dominated headlines in 2023 for more than just the shoe alone. In October, Adidas unleashed a bold campaign video via social media, with Edwards offering his unfiltered opinion on some first-ever signature shoes from his peers, including Ja Morant, Luka Doncic and LeBron James.
$120.00
Anticipation Builds for Devin Booker’s Book 1 Drop
Images of NBA star Devin Booker’s highly anticipated first Nike signature basketball shoe, the Book 1, started to circulate in July. Although the Swoosh isn’t releasing the shoe until spring ’24, a number of pairs of the “Clay Orange” colorway were released during Art Basel in December exclusively via Unknwn in Miami.
$1,510.00
New Balance and Aminé Unveil First Collab
Although New Balance announced it had signed rapper Aminé last year, their first sneaker collaboration didn’t arrive until 2023. The Aminé x New Balance 610 “Mooz” arrived in August, a reimagined version of the classic trail runner replete with nods to the rapper’s Club Banana brand. Aminé’s first collaboration with New Balance was well received, and his second with the brand, the 610S “Mini Mooz” slip-on that arrived in November, proved he isn’t a one-hit wonder.
$149.00
Buy Aminé x New Balance 610 “Mooz”
$230.00
Jordan Brand Delivers Jayson Tatum’s First Signature Sneaker
Jayson Tatum is one of basketball’s brightest stars, and Jordan Brand delivered the hooper’s first signature shoe in 2023. The Jordan Tatum 1, a court-ready look wrapped by a ground-contact foam that acts as an integrated traction pattern, was revealed in February. The shoe, which also features uncaged Zoom Air bags in the forefoot for high energy return and a strong TPU frame, finally hit stores in April in the “Zoo” colorway full-family sizing.
$120.00
Storm Reid and New Balance Finally Collaborate
Actress Storm Reid — the 2023 FN Achievement Awards Style Influencer of the Year winner — has been a New Balance brand ambassador since October 2021, but their first collaboration arrived in August. The unisex Storm Reid x New Balance CT302 sneaker, which retailed for $100, proved her talents extend well beyond acting. Her collab was equipped with uppers made with nylon underlays and suede overlays, as well as custom Storm Reid-branded tongue labels, sockliners and lace aglets. Also, the look included a surprise “1720” hidden on the shoe, which serves as a nod to her faith, and her favorite shade of blue was used on the “N” upper branding and on the tongue label.
$140.00
Buy Storm Reid x New Balance CT302 sneaker
Nike SB and Skateboarder Leo Baker Make History
Skateboarder Leo Baker, who withdrew from the 2020 Tokyo Olympics in order to come out as a trans man, became in September the first transgender athlete to get their own signature sneaker from Nike SB. The Nike SB React Leo was released to the market in genderless sizing.
$95.00
About the Author
Peter Verry is the Senior News and Features Editor for Athletic and Outdoor at Footwear News. He oversees coverage of the two fast-paced and ultracompetitive markets, which includes conducting in-depth interviews with industry leaders and writing stories on sneakers and outdoor shoes. He is a lifelong sneaker addict (and shares his newest purchases via @peterverry on Instagram) and spends most of his free time on a trail. He holds an M.A. in journalism from Hofstra University and can be reached at peter.verry@footwearnews.com.
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